Investing.com – U.S. Futures inched up on Friday as the markets were set to end the week on a strong note.
The S&P 500 futures rose four points or 0.15% to 2,738.0 as of 6:45 AM ET (11:45 GMT) while Dow futures increased 18 points or 0.07% to 25,252.0. Meanwhile tech heavy Nasdaq 100 futures was up 14 points or 0.22% to 6,830.75.
Investors appear to have shrugged off raising inflation concerns, which rattled markets last week. Wall Street ended Thursday on a five-day winning streak, with the Dow closing up more than 300 points.
Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA (NYSE:BUD) was among the top gainers in pre-market trading, rising 1.69% while Teva Pharma Industries Ltd ADR (NYSE:TEVA) jumped 1.08% and Novavax Inc (NASDAQ:NVAX) increased 1.85%. Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) inched up 0.24% while telecommunications firm Nokia (HE:NOKIA) Corp ADR (NYSE:NOK) gained 0.87%.
Elsewhere online retailer and blockchain developer Overstockcom Inc (NASDAQ:OSTK) was down 0.89% after surging 14% on Thursday after George Soros’ hedge fund bought shares of the firm, making it the third largest shareholder. Meanwhile mining company Rio Tinto ADR (NYSE:RIO) rose 1.24% and ArcelorMittal SA ADR (NYSE:MT) inched down 0.06%.
A flurry of economic data is expected on Friday. Housing starts, building permits, and import prices are all expected to be released at 8:30 AM ET (13:30 GMT). The Michigan consumer sentiment is scheduled for 10:00 AM ET (15:00 GMT).
Investors will also be looking to corporate earnings on Friday, including Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:KHC), Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) and Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB).
In Europe stocks were up. Germany’s DAX rose 79 points or 0.64% while in France the CAC 40 increased 46 points or 0.89% and in London, the FTSE 100 was up 47 points or 0.66%. Meanwhile the pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 gained 34 points or 1.01% while Spain’s IBEX 35 surged 129 points or 1.24%.
In commodities, gold futures rose 0.41% to $1,360.90 a troy ounce while crude oil futures were up 0.21% to $61.47 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, inched up 0.15% to 88.60.